The EFTA Court. EIPAScope 1994(2):pp.1-5

Abstract

In the relationship between the European Union and the EFTA States nearly all attention has recently been drawn to the enlargement negotiations of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Austria, which were recently successfully concluded. However, it should not be forgotten that the accession of the abovementioned EFTA States still depends on the outcome of their respective referenda relating to the enlargement issue. The agreement establishing the European Economic Area (EEA), which entered into force on 1 January 1994, is at present the zenith of cooperation between the European Union and the EFTA States and the EEA Agreement could remain of importance if the outcome of the referenda in one or more of the EFTA States is negative. It should be mentioned that, besides Norway, Sweden, Finland and Austria, Iceland is also among the EFTA States which are party to the EEA Agreement. Liechtenstein has postponed its ratification due to its close relations with Switzerland which was unable to ratify following its referendum in 1992. The EEA Agreement deserves further attention due to the possibility that it may serve as a model for the European Union in later negotiations with other countries, especially with Eastern European countries which most likely will not be able to accede as full members for some years to come but may like to be associated with the Community within a multilateral and institutionalized framework. The purpose of this article is to present the EFTA Court and to give an introduction2 to the organization, composition and competences of the Court and the relationship to the Court of Justice of the European Communities (abbreviated to CJEC in the following).